Almost every home has one: an old TV that no-one uses, a desktop PC that looks like something Angelina Jolie battered in the movie ‘Hackers’. It’s gathering dust, it feels sad, unused, unloved. Why not give it purpose? Why not let it help break a goddamn world record.
TechCollect in Australia is running a large scale recycling project and, between the April 20 and April 28, they’re hoping to break the world record for most e-waste collected for recycling — which sounds like a really weird record to actually exist, but apparently it does. There’s also a world record for the amount of spent sitting in bathtub full of beans, so there’s that.
TechCollect is an organisation dedicated to establishing initiatives to enable manufacturers to take responsibility for the tech products they own. This drive is part of that goal.
“90% of all computers and TVs can be recycled and made into new products but unfortunately only 10-17% of Australia’s e-waste has been recycled,” said TechCollect Chief Executive Officer, Carmel Dollisson. “We want to encourage all Australians to de-clutter their homes by pulling out those old TVs from the shed plus old computers and printers from storage to help TechCollect keep e-waste out of landfill.”
Apparenly 16.8 million TVs, computers, printers and other related tech products are incorrectly disposed of each year in Australia. A pretty insane number that equates to 106,000 tonnes of e-waste.
“Electronic waste, like TVs and computers, contain both valuable and toxic materials that need to be recycled to the highest environmental standards,” saidPlanet Ark CEO Paul Klymenko. “Planet Ark is working with TechCollect because we believe they are committed to setting the standard for responsible e-waste recycling.”
If you have some poor old computer, or any other relevant tech want to dispose of, head to the TechCollect website for information on drop off points. There are 65 drop off points throughout Australia, so chances are there’s one nearby.
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